You are studying the oxygen-binding characteristics of a synthetic oxygen transport compound. You want to design the compound so that it most closely mimics the oxygen affinity of native hemoglobin protein. If you are successful, addition of which of the following to a test solution would have the greatest negative effect on the ability of your compound to bind oxygen?
A) 2,3-BPG
B) bicarbonate ion
C) carbonic acid
D) phosphoric acid
E) water

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Addition of carbonic acid (H2CO3) to the solution would result in its ionization to bicarbonate (HCO3−) and proton (H+). The increase in H+ would, therefore, be expected to exert a large negative effect on oxygen binding by the synthetic hemoglobin construct just as is the case for the negative effect of increasing H+ on the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen.

You Are Studying the Oxygen-Binding Characteristics of a Synthetic Oxygen